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Chairwoman of ASD Family Help Loraine Fraser said longer waiting times can "cause issues in the development of the child"

Charities like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Family Help are concerned a lack of early intervention will result in children being "dependent on society for a longer period".

Chairwoman Loraine Fraser, said: "The sooner they get help, the more opportunity they have to progress to their best possible potential."

Louise Noble of Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We know that the waiting times are far too long, we find that unacceptable and we know that that's not OK for the families that we're working with.

"We've been able to bring in additional staff to our teams, and since the beginning of this year we've started to see the waiting lists turn in the right direction."